In June the first construction site in the area of the Imperial Fora: the pedestrian ring of San Teodoro

The restyling of the Via dei Fori Imperiali area is starting to take shape: in June the construction sites for the Palatine pedestrian ring between Via di San Teodoro and Via del Foro Romano

ROME. – The first construction sites of the Carme-Monumental Archaeological Center, the major redevelopment project of via dei Fori Imperiali and the surrounding areas within the quadrant of the Colosseum archaeological park. In June 2024, work will begin in via San Teodoro and via del Foro Romano, which will be redeveloped with the creation of a pedestrian ring around the Palatine Hill, the rearrangement of the surface with cobblestones and the creation of large pedestrian spaces in the Roman Forum square and in the Velabro square, with benches and trees.

The innovations were announced by the Capitoline councilor for Public Works, Ornella Segnalini, during the presentation of the project to the representatives of the International Academies of Rome, in the presence of the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, and the councilors for Urban Planning and Culture, Maurizio Veloccia and Miguel Gotor respectively, and the president of the Chamber’s Culture commission, Federico Mollicone.

While waiting to intervene on via dei Fori Imperiali (photo below), therefore, we start from the areas around the Palatine. The overall cost of this first intervention is 2 million euros and the works will last approximately 5 months from June. In particular 7,500 m2 of road will be redeveloped for a total of 300 thousand cobblestones. The first section of a circular pedestrian walk will be built between San Gregorio, Circo Massimo, Velabro, San Teodoro and Campidoglio.

In the final configuration Via di San Teodoro will have a new sidewalk with a width varying between 5 and 7 meters on the Palatine side, a 4-meter transit lane for vehicles, a line of parking of approximately 2 meters and a protected pedestrian path of approximately 1.60 meters on the side of the buildings. The works involve the rearrangement of the cobblestone pavement, while near the intersection of via di San Teodoro with via dei Cerchi the section currently asphalted will be made entirely of cobblestone.

We will then continue with the section that goes from via dei Fienili to via del Velabro where the width of the roadway (about 14.5 m) will still allow the transit of vehicles, even if partially. Once the roadway has been created, the pavement on the Palatine side will be built. Finally here is the third phase, in the last stretch it goes from via del Velabro to via dei Cerchi. Here the road section allows for suitable spaces for the management of the construction site, also guaranteeing the functionality of the direct sales agricultural market in via San Teodoro 74.

On via del Foro Romano, a small road on the opposite side of via dei Fori Imperiali and the archaeological park itself, the project involves the construction of a new sidewalk of approximately 5 meters on the side facing it overlooks the Roman Forum and is approximately 1.5 meters on the side of the buildings. After the Jubilee, a second intervention will begin in the area, which will concern the redevelopment of via di Monte Tarpeo and via San Pietro in prison, and a redesign of via dei Cerchi in anticipation of future pedestrianisation.

“We’re off – explained Segnalini – the works will begin within the first fifteen days of June. We’ll start from a very beautiful promenade that we’re giving back to the citizens, that of via di San Teodoro. The road , as it presents itself today, which does not allow those who pass through it to even realize where they are and what is around them”.

“It seemed useful and important to us to interact with the academies when we are preparing to carry out the first intervention of this ambitious project – added Gualtieri– The Carme project, with the transformation of via of the Imperial Forums, aims to create a double new function for this place: certainly a better tourist experience but also the creation of a new center of public life with a new promenade for the Romans, with people at the centre”.